Recessed Dual-Axis Lock Handle for Safe Door Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic door locks in safes are prone to malfunctions, misalignment, scratching, and unauthorized access due to protruding actuators that are vulnerable to external influences.

Innovation Solution

The actuator is designed with a handle that is partially or completely recessed into the housing and pivotable about two axes, reducing external exposure and incorporating ergonomic and secure mechanisms to prevent jamming and unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the actuator is designed as a protruding door handle or rotary handle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to misalignment and scratching over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is nested within a recess in the housing wall, so that in the non-use position the handle is at least partially recessed into the housing. This nesting protects the handle from external influences while maintaining operational accessibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the actuator protrudes beyond the housing wall, then the ease of operation is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to unauthorized access and external influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidobject-affected harmful factors
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is preliminarily protected by being recessed into the housing before any unauthorized access or external damage can occur. This preliminary protective positioning reduces the surface area susceptible to external influences and prevents unauthorized manipulation of the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the handle is made pivotable about two axes of rotation, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed with dynamic pivotability about two axes of rotation (first axis perpendicular to the housing wall, second axis parallel to the housing wall), allowing the handle to adapt to different operational positions while maintaining a protected non-use position recessed in the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3686381B1Electronic lock control unit and electronic lock
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 BURG WAECHTER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3686381B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686381B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3686381B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a control unit for an electronic lock, in particular for a door lock of a safe, which is designed for electronic data processing of a user-enterable identifier, comprising a housing with at least one housing wall and a manually operable actuator for controlling a shaft connected to a locking device of the lock, wherein the actuator is designed to be activatable depending on the validity of the entered identifier, characterized in that the actuator has a handle which, in the non-use position, is at least partially, preferably completely, recessed into a recess in the housing wall, wherein the handle is arranged to pivot about two axes of rotation relative to the housing.